Jennie's Journey

past presidents

Recent interviews by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have had me scratching my head. The pair has been seen featured in various television interviews touting all the good they have done since leaving the oval office.

They have been interviewed separately, talking with the media about how great they have been with charitable works.

Okay...I get it. You have been a busy fellow and you weren't content just to relax and enjoy being a former president. You wanted to improve the world.

I agree Carter's Habitat for Humanity project has provided numerous Americans and people around the world with homes to call their own. It is a wonderful organization.

The Carter Center has done much to advance human rights around the globe and maybe that Nobel Peace Prize was warranted.

Clinton's foundation has also been instrumental in promoting human rights and has been a great advocate for AIDS/HIV treatment and prevention.

He was great in stepping forward when the World Trade Center was struck by terrorists Sept. 11, 2001 and has since worked together well with George W. Bush, "Bush One," to rally the American people in moments of crisis. The duo worked together to campaign for donations to help victims and their families.

What I don't understand is why the news programs feel it is so important to highlight these two former presidents and all they have done.

I am accustomed to former presidents being humble in their work. I appreciate all Carter and Clinton, and their organizations, have done. I just don't need to hear about it.

I especially don't appreciate the fact that they seem to be bragging and telling the American people "I am the best past president you have ever had."

Carter recently said in an interview he was the best president ever. Huh? Not in the eyes of the American people.

Clinton hasn't gone that far, thank goodness. He made a lot of blunders, including opening Fannie and Freddie up to the eventual housing crisis that led to the current economic problems...he elected to deregulate the two financial giants for those who have short memories. He told Congress everyone deserves to live the American dream, and we had a Democrat Congress to back him up in that decision.

Both Clinton and Carter, I will venture to say, have been great Americans and have done much to improve this world. I don't, however, believe either of them was the best president ever.

I don't know what these two hope to gain through espousing their accomplishments, but I can guarantee I won't be voting for either of them or the candidate they may choose to endorse.